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In the vibrant atmosphere of welcoming summer, Sa Pa town, a renowned tourist destination in Lao Cai province, is busily completing the final preparations for its colorful Summer Festival, scheduled to open on April 29th. The highlight of this series of events is the lively Street Festival, promising spectacular and diverse artistic performances. Notably, Sa Pa is honored to welcome an art troupe from its sister city in China for cultural exchange and performances, further enriching the festival's cultural tapestry.
Alongside cultural activities, Sa Pa is also focusing on upgrading and renovating famous tourist attractions to provide even better experiences for visitors. The Fansipan Legend cable car area continues to receive investment to ensure safety and enhance amenities. The romantic Love Waterfall, the majestic Silver Waterfall, Ham Rong Mountain with its spectacular panoramic views, and the unique rail-sliding system are also being carefully maintained and supplemented with new and attractive features. Not only in the central area, but also in other communes and wards throughout Sa Pa, cultural and artistic programs reflecting the unique customs and traditions of ethnic minorities are being diligently prepared, promising exciting discoveries for tourists who want to learn more about local culture.
According to numerous surveys, Sa Pa remains a top destination, attracting tourists from both the North and South of Vietnam, especially those traveling in groups.
Local travel companies are also constantly innovating, registering to organize many attractive events to attract tourists and enrich the itinerary for exploring Sa Pa. The vibrant Rose Festival and the dramatic traditional horse races promise to be special highlights. In particular, Cat Cat Village, one of the most famous community cultural destinations, is actively restoring and recreating the unique customs and traditions of the H'Mong ethnic group, while also preparing for lively live performances that authentically and captivatingly recreate daily cultural life.
According to the Chairman of the People's Committee of Sa Pa town, in the first three months of the current year, the number of tourists visiting Sa Pa reached an impressive figure of over 1.5 million. With the extended April 30th - May 1st holiday, a surge in visitors is expected, estimated at nearly 200,000. To ensure traffic safety and convenience for tourists, Sa Pa town has proactively coordinated closely with the Traffic Police Department of Lao Cai Provincial Police and the police forces of communes and wards to develop traffic flow plans and organize effective parking management, minimizing potential traffic congestion.
The 3-star segment is currently recording an occupancy rate of approximately 70%. For the 4-star segment, most hotels are nearly fully booked, with occupancy rates reaching 85-90%.
Although Sa Pa currently has a total of over 10,000 hotel and homestay rooms, occupancy rates are very high. Even on weekdays, hotel occupancy rates are often almost at full capacity, with international tourists accounting for a significant proportion, from 50% to 90%. With the upcoming extended holiday, the vibrancy of the accommodation market in Sa Pa is entirely predictable. Currently, up to 65% of hotel rooms have already been booked by tourists, demonstrating Sa Pa's strong appeal during this holiday season.
To avoid overcrowding or long wait times for visitors during the upcoming holiday season, Sa Pa will control and coordinate visitors from tour operators and agencies.
To prepare for the five-day peak tourist season during the April 30th - May 1st holiday, Sa Pa has implemented a series of meticulous preparations. Besides strengthening its professional, enthusiastic, and hospitable staff, many hotels in the area are undergoing a "makeover," repainting walls and upgrading facilities. Due to Sa Pa's climate, which is often foggy and humid, accommodation establishments are paying special attention to maintaining their air conditioning systems, ensuring a supply of fresh air and maintaining a warm, comfortable temperature in the rooms for guests. At public recreational areas, observations show that even during weekdays, the number of tourists flocking to the Dragon Cloud Glass Bridge tourist area, located on the O Quy Ho Pass bordering Sa Pa (in Lai Chau province), remains quite high, demonstrating the area's enduring appeal to visitors.
